Some authorly input

[EmilyMiller]

So I’m done (save for self-editing) with a new, mid-length story, ~11k words. It’s kinda a commission, albeit one with no money involved. Basically I got told the scaffold of a story and given free-rein to fill in the blanks in any way I see fit.

I’m starting to write stories as opposed to my typical stroke smut (well there is still a lot of stroke smut in it TBH ) and I had some of my own ideas to bring to this one.

The FMC and MMC have already fucked a lot and - IIRR - both cum twice. I set it up that the FMC tells the MMC exactly what she wants to happen next, saying this while bent over a washroom basin.

And then I cut to parrots (well actually an image of the FMC’s cum-covered face from later on). This allows me to get on with the, not entirely sexual, denouement. It felt like the right thing to do. But a few months ago, I would have written the extra sex scene.

Not sure if this is growth as a writer, or a cop out. Maybe it’s both.

I’m not asking to be told what to do; it’s not like there is a right answer. I’m just interested in whether this situation is familiar to others

Em

 

[Zenith77]

I write long sex scenes that fit in the story, and then the next time sex comes up it's just one line. I think it depends on the story, and where you are in it.

Is the sex necessary there?
Does the sex add something there?
Have you included sex already in this story/chapter/part?
Do you want more, do you need more?
Is it different to the last bout of naked wrestling, or basically the same?
Is it different people? A different dynamic in some way (d/s vs vanilla, outside vs in, whatever) that makes it worth while?

I think its no one's judgement but yours, at the end of the day. Such is the cross to bear of the author.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I write long sex scenes that fit in the story, and then the next time sex comes up it's just one line. I think it depends on the story, and where you are in it.

Thanks for replying…

Is the sex necessary there?

No. But it’s a sex scene and I used to seldom miss the opportunity for one

Does the sex add something there?

It might for me - for the reader, maybe not. Then I don’t want them to expect a crescendo and have the music suddenly stop.

Have you included sex already in this story/chapter/part?

Have you read any of my stuff ?

Do you want more, do you need more?

I always want / need more

Is it different to the last bout of naked wrestling, or basically the same?

It would have echoes.

Is it different people? A different dynamic in some way (d/s vs vanilla, outside vs in, whatever) that makes it worth while?

Part of the dynamic is what the sex means to both protagonists morphing - and how they come to understand that

I think its no one's judgement but yours, at the end of the day. Such is the cross to bear of the author.

I know, just interested in opinions.

Thanks again

Em

 

[Zenith77]

Er... include it then?

 

[Zenith77]

Seeing as how you edited your original post, I should probably edit my reply.

Those are the kinda thoughts that I have when I'm looking to include a scene, but I guess they just happen in the background and I really go on a gut feel of whether or not I want more sex right-about-now.

Also depends what I'm in the mood to write - story or smut.

Conversely, I definitely think that leaving sex out in favour of a better story vs putting sex in for sex's sake can show growth as an author. Not a cop out.

 

[NoTalentHack]

So I’m done (save for self-editing) with a new, mid-length story, ~11k words. It’s kinda a commission, albeit one with no money involved. Basically I got told the scaffold of a story and given free-rein to fill in the blanks in any way I see fit.

I’m starting to write stories as opposed to my typical stroke smut (well there is still a lot of stroke smut in it TBH ) and I had some of my own ideas to bring to the is one.

The FMC and MMC have already fucked a lot and - IIRR - both cum twice. I set it up that the FMC tells the MMC exactly what she wants to happen next, saying this while bent over a washroom basin.

And then I cut to parrots (well actually am image of the FMC’s cum-covered face from later on). This allows me to get on with the, not entirely sexual, denouncement. It felt like the right thing to do. But a few months ago, I would have written the extra sex scene.

Not sure if this is growth as a writer, or a cop out. Maybe it’s both.

I’m not asking to be told what to do; it’s not like there is a right answer. I’m just interested in whether this situation is familiar to others

Em

There is no right answer; it all depends on your style as a writer, the needs of the story, and what you personally want to write. Skipping over a sex scene, for me, is a regular thing. Hell, skipping over all sex scenes is a thing I sometimes do, depending on the story. But that's me; I know this is "wrong" on a erotica site, but the sex scenes aren't why I'm writing, and sometimes they get in the way of the story I want to tell. They're often the first thing I cut.

 

[EmilyMiller]

There is no right answer; it all depends on your style as a writer, the needs of the story, and what you personally want to write. Skipping over a sex scene, for me, is a regular thing. Hell, skipping over all sex scenes is a thing I sometimes do, depending on the story. But that's me; I know this is "wrong" on a erotica site, but the sex scenes aren't why I'm writing, and sometimes they get in the way of the story I want to tell. They're often the first thing I cut.

Thanks. I think I should have the courage of my convictions and leave it out. The earlier passages are jam-packed with naughtiness. I can however just envisage the comments that I should have done the final scene justice.

I know I shouldn’t be guided by comments, especially ones that have not even been made yet .

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

Seeing as how you edited your original post, I should probably edit my reply.

I think I just added a “given” I had left out.

But I have the attention span of a goldfish

Em

 

[Zenith77]

I think I just added a “given” I had left out.

But I have the attention span of a goldfish

Em

My bad, I thought you changed the last line - your 'ask'. Or not-ask, as the case may be.

Maybe it's me being a goldfish

 

[NoTalentHack]

Thanks. I think I should have the courage of my convictions and leave it out. The earlier passages are jam-packed with naughtiness. I can however just envisage the comments that I should have done the final scene justice.

I know I shouldn’t be guided by comments, especially ones that have not even been made yet .

Em

I did something very similar to what you described in "A Very Long Engagement," which is one of my higher-rated stories, if you want to take a look. It can work just fine as a narrative device.

 

[EmilyMiller]

My bad, I thought you changed the last line - your 'ask'. Or not-ask, as the case may be.

Maybe it's me being a goldfish

100% of my posts get edited. I write on my phone.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

100% of my posts get edited. I write on my phone.

Em

OK, maybe not that one.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

I did something very similar to what you described in "A Very Long Engagement," which is one of my higher-rated stories, if you want to take a look. It can work just fine as a narrative device.

Thanks - will try to.

Em

 

[Zenith77]

100% of my posts get edited. I write on my phone.

Em

OK, maybe not that one.

Em

99.90758% of your posts get edited.

Correct at time of going to press.

 

[gunhilltrain]

There is no right answer; it all depends on your style as a writer, the needs of the story, and what you personally want to write. Skipping over a sex scene, for me, is a regular thing. Hell, skipping over all sex scenes is a thing I sometimes do, depending on the story. But that's me; I know this is "wrong" on a erotica site, but the sex scenes aren't why I'm writing, and sometimes they get in the way of the story I want to tell. They're often the first thing I cut.

I don't know what more could be added to the above. Also, it's a bit difficult for us to evaluate your work without actually having the text to look at. (You really can't post much unless it goes into Story Feedback after publication.) My impressions, partially based on a text that is available - my only entry in Transgender and Cross-dressers (in January, I think).

1. 11,000 words is longer than any stand-alone story I've ever done. That one is only 7,700 words, and that's a bit on the long side.

2. I'd never write on a phone; I can't see the screen or the keyboard well enough. At least I don't use a typewriter any longer.

3. From the text, there is a discussion near the end of a future sexual encounter. I was going to include that event, but I changed my mind - I felt it was more plausible the way I eventually did it. And sometimes enough is enough, or whatever that trite expression is. Of course, some guy did - by email no less - tell me exactly, in his opinion, how a sequel should go. "Just saying," he said. Just saying, please write your own story.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[EmilyMiller]

To reiterate (with added emphasis):

I’m not asking to be told what to do; it’s not like there is a right answer. I’m just interested in whether this situation is familiar to others

I know my story is up to me. Just interested as to whether others have had similar dilemmas.

Em

 

[djrip]

I’m not asking to be told what to do

Who are you and what have you done with Emily?

 

[Trionyx]

You can get away with fewer (or any) sex scenes in romance stories. I've also written a mature story (featuring both an older FMC and an older MMC) with no sex scenes. It is my sense Erotic Couplings stories need to feature lots of sex, at least when I've written them without a lot of detailed sex scenes, I've received some complaints.

But the important thing is to write what YOU want to write. It certainly won't cut your pay and it will give you more satisfaction for a job well done, at least done the way you want it.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Who are you and what have you done with Emily?

I’m an evil alien clone. Emily is happily having all her bodily cavities probed by my overlords and says she doesn’t want to be returned to Earth.

Em 2.0

 

[djrip]

I’m an evil alien clone. Emily is happily having all her bodily cavity’s probed by my overlords and says she doesn’t want to be returned to Earth.

Em 2.0

Okay that checks out

 

[EmilyMiller]

I don't know what more could be added to the above. Also, it's a bit difficult for us to evaluate your work without actually having the text to look at. (You really can't post much unless it goes into Story Feedback after publication.) My impressions, partially based on a text that is available - my only entry in Transgender and Cross-dressers (in January, I think).

1. 11,000 words is longer than any stand-alone story I've ever done. That one is only 7,700 words, and that's a bit on the long side.

2. I'd never write on a phone; I can't see the screen or the keyboard well enough. At least I don't use a typewriter any longer.

3. From the text, there is a discussion near the end of a future sexual encounter. I was going to include that event, but I changed my mind - I felt it was more plausible the way I eventually did it. And sometimes enough is enough, or whatever that trite expression is. Of course, some guy did - by email no less - tell me exactly, in his opinion, how a sequel should go. "Just saying," he said. Just saying, please write your own story.

Hope that helps a bit.

It does help, but I don’t want my work evaluated (by all means vote on it when published or ideally vote AND comment). Just wondered if my dilemma was a common one.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

I’m an evil alien clone. Emily is happily having all her bodily cavities probed by my overlords and says she doesn’t want to be returned to Earth.

Em 2.0

Argh stupid apostrophes!!!

 

[Rob_Royale]

Yep, I do that pretty frequently. Sometimes I find it even sexier than an actual sex scene because your imagination is filling in the blanks. I just submitted a story where a character finds her two companions basking in the post-coital afterglow, covered in fuck sweat and cum. My imagination is going wild now imagining the coupling.

 

[alohadave]

I’m an evil alien clone. Emily is happily having all her bodily cavities probed by my overlords and says she doesn’t want to be returned to Earth.

Em 2.0

When is that story being posted?

 

[ElectricBlue]

It does help, but I don’t want my work evaluated (by all means vote on it when published or ideally vote AND comment). Just wondered if my dilemma was a common one.

Em

Yes, I suspect it happens a lot. By the sounds of it though, you have the opposite problem to me. Many of my stories have the characters circling around each other because they're not ready to jump into bed yet, whereas your lot have the makings of several stories within each encounter.

Write more stories, problem solved.